This is Kaylee Knapp, an active member of our community almost at CoastFi, at 29. Consider us inspired! Not only because of Kaylee’s inherently savvy mind but how she leads with heart. When you poke around on Astor, you’re sure to see her offering advice and empathetic feedback, and after speaking with her, it’s clear that helping others reach financial freedom is so authentic to her. Read on, get inspired, and absolutely check out Kaylee’s investment strategy on Astor.
Thanks for being here! Will you introduce yourself? Maybe add a fun fact?
I'm Kaylee Knapp, I’m 29, live in Phoenix, Arizona, and work in account management. I'm from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and moved down here two years ago for work and have been exploring the old wild west. It’s very fun.
My interesting fact: when I lived in Michigan, I was like the Snow White of all my friends and family. I would always come across little abandoned animals and help rehabilitate them. Someday, in the future, I'd love to have my own wildlife rescue.
Have you made the jump to rattlesnakes yet?
No, not yet. I played around with a few scorpions that I found in my house, but that's as far as the wildlife goes down here.
Terrifying and incredible. So it sounds like people—and animals—gravitate towards you. Is that how you found yourself in client-facing roles?
Yeah, definitely. I thought I would go into marketing, and wound up in account management and customer service. I naturally have high emotional intelligence, which I work at too. To me, it’s important to be relatable to people and support your community. It seems like the older we get, and as we move farther away from each other, it gets tougher. Especially since Covid.
I believe it’s essential to prioritize emotional intelligence. You can do anything by being a good listener and communicator.
I sense that this support translates to how you found your passion for finance.
Definitely. After I moved to Arizona and was making more money, I started asking friends and family where I should be putting my funds and what they were doing with theirs. No one really wanted to talk to me about it. Even the friends that came from well-educated, well-to-do families would say they were scared to look at their bank account.
Those comments baffled me! So I started doing my own research—books, podcasts—and getting my hands on the resources I didn’t have. I began to understand that, really, finances are for everyone. Every income bracket has the opportunity to create generational wealth if you start early enough. It's a mindset, time, and consistency thing.
We live in such a fast-paced society and everyone wants to get rich now, so growing wealth feels really out of reach. I've become passionate about wanting to start that conversation because wealth-building is attainable for everyone. It just starts with having a conversation. It’s heartbreaking that we don’t learn these skills in school.
Heartbreaking is exactly it. And I really appreciate you saying that people didn’t want to talk about it. It truly is the last taboo!
I hear all these details about boyfriends, work drama, and very personal family things, but nobody wants to just talk about how much they're saving, making, or their fears with finances. It’s crazy how uncomfortable we still are.
Will you share more about how you’re investing in the stock market?
It’s such an incredible tool. I'm a huge proponent of putting as much money, as quickly as you can, in the stock market. I try to invest at least 25% of each paycheck. I know it freaks people out so I just tell everybody you can invest with $10 a week. Hopefully, they become more comfortable and passionate about seeing that money grow once they start.
What stocks do you invest in? Any asset class you’re into?
Right now it's mostly just index funds. Boring index funds! I did get lucky and bought a decent amount of NVIDIA a few years ago.
The boring index funds have been great for me. I’m almost at CoastFi. My plan is just to keep investing early and often. I don't see myself retiring early because I love to work, but it’s great to know that future Kaylee will be taken care of.
I love hearing this. Will you walk me through your whole asset allocation?
Yeah, so I have a Roth IRA that is predominantly in the S&P 500. I’ve got some NVIDIA in there. I also have some other single stocks that I bought just for fun. It’s simple—I have more S&P500 exposure in a brokerage account and workplace 401k, along with some bonds and international funds.
The more educated I get the more I know what I want my allocation to look like. Until recently in my 401k, I had a robo advisor and then moved into a target date fund, which I recommend to beginners. I’m waiting for my new company plan to kick in, and then I’m going to take the reins and do a little bit of different stocks, bonds, and again, boring index funds.
Kaylee, you’re so badass. Where did you get this confidence? What are you reading that I must read?
I have been plastering this all over Astor threads! But really, the first book I read was I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. That’s what got me going. I listen to Money with Katie podcasts, and Rich Habits, too.
One of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow is @Forbetterorworth. They’re a family of color that is transparent about their money story, and their content is just so funny. They share a lot of relatable personal finance memes. If I have questions, I ask and they provide helpful feedback. From their account, I’ve found other finance creators of color and new perspectives to learn about. I appreciate being connected to finance folks who are different from me and my background.
I love that. Thank you for sharing these resources with me! Have you ever worked with a financial advisor?
I've worked with the team at Fidelity, and they've given me great advice, but I've never had a true financial advisor.
It sounds like you are well on your way to becoming one!
Oh, thank you. I want to do more of this in the future. I would love to get legitimate accreditations someday to support others with financial education. I think it's just awesome, and so important to help people reach financial independence. It’s not impossible!
You’re right—it’s just math and time. Two things no one really likes, but it's absolutely possible. I love how active you are on Astor, I see your name everywhere.
I love it! And I love the transparency. It’s so helpful to see what other people my age are doing with their money. Obviously, everyone's financial journey is a little bit different from one another, but I think it's exciting to have that transparency and openness and learn and grow from each other.